It’s official the Detroit Lions are back and ready to resume action tonight against the Cincinnati Cincinnati Bengals to kickoff their preseason.
The Detroit Lions are less than an hour away from kickoff as they take on the Cincinnati Bengals to begin their preseason opener.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has already announced that multiple starters will play at least two drives to start the game. The exact opposite can be said for Dan Campbell and the Lions. Campbell has said that the majority of the starters will not play in this first preseason game, but I do expect some, if not all, of the starters to see action at some point during the preseason.
Before the game begins, here are three predictions for how I think this game will go.
1. Luke Altmyer shows he can be QB2
Luke Altmyer is currently in a quarterback battle with Josh Dobbs for the backup quarterback job. After Teddy Bridgewater abruptly retired last week, the Detroit Lions quickly moved to bring in Dobbs.
As of now, on the unofficial depth chart, Altmyer is listed as the No. 2 quarterback. I believe he will impress.
In fact, for a bold stat-line prediction, I think Altmyer will finish 11-of-16 passing for 123 yards and one touchdown while leading the Lions to three scoring drives.
This will be Altmyer’s first NFL action, so the prediction is certainly bold. However, based on what I’ve seen from him during training camp, I believe he can pull it off.
2. Lions win
The Lions are currently seven-point underdogs against the Cincinnati Bengals, mainly because Cincinnati is expected to play some starters while Detroit is not.
However, if Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense can’t get going early, I believe the Lions have an excellent shot at winning this game.
Detroit also has numerous players fighting to make the team and win positional battles, which should create even more intensity throughout the game.
The Lions will be shifting to a 4-2-5 defense, which I believe should benefit them against a high-powered passing offense like the Bengals.
I also like Detroit’s weapons at wide receiver. Greg Dortch, Isaac TeSlaa and Cedrick Wilson Jr could all make big plays and help the Lions jump out to an early lead.
Not to mention Tom Kennedy, a preseason superstar who has become known for excelling in these games.
The Bengals have not won their opening preseason game since 2021, while Detroit has won two of its last three preseason games.
3. Cedrick Wilson becomes the unsung hero
Wilson is currently fighting for a spot on the final wide receiver depth chart. A strong outing could go a long way toward earning him a roster spot.
He’s an experienced veteran who has been in the league since 2019, and I believe Wilson will be able to take advantage of some of the weaker defensive backs Cincinnati deploys.
This is a perfect opportunity for Wilson to make his mark and show the Lions why he deserves a spot on the 53-man roster.
In his career, Wilson has 126 receptions for 1,524 yards and 12 touchdowns. Don’t be surprised if he hauls in a touchdown tonight.
Overall
At the end of the day, this game doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. It’s a preseason game, and whether the Lions win or lose will not affect their regular-season record.
Instead, this is an opportunity for young players and roster hopefuls to get valuable reps and showcase why they deserve to make the 53-man roster.
For players like Luke Altmyer and Cedrick Wilson, tonight could be a huge opportunity to make an impression.
